Fenderwell lock



F. A. SMITH FENDERWELL LOCK Feb. 12, 1935.

Filed June 22, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet-l J/derzb a mam, v

Feb. 12, 1935. F A, ITH 1,991,181

FENDERWELL LOCK Filed June 22, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -9 ,1 1 1 if 1! "1:1 1;] H}

IM A f Patented Feb. 12, 1935 ITED- STATES A N OFFICE a "FENDERWELL LQVC'K' Frederick A. smith, North Chicago, 111., assignor to Oakes Products CorporatiomNorth'Chicago,

l 111., a corporation of Michigan a 7 Application June 22, 1931; Serial No. 545,943

This invention relates to locki'ng means and arrangement particularly useful for locking sparewheels or tires against theft from depressions' or wells. in automotive vehicle renders. v The linventionconcerns particularly 'that type of locking arrangement in which a locking arm or bar; is extended transversely, of 1 the well from one side thereof andissecured and locked to its support to be in position over or in pressure engagement withthe lower part of the spare wheel or tireseated in the well. I l On some automobiles the fender wells are comparatively deep and an important object .of my invention is to provide improved locking means and arrangement for efficiently locking spare wheels or tires in such deep wells, at the same time bracing and strengthening: thefender and the well at the point of application'of the locking means, produce aneat apparance,- and elim- .inate all obstructions on the top of the fender.

The various features of my invention are incorporated in the structure shown on the drawings, in which drawings =1 v v 1 Figure 1 is a verticalsection through a spare wheel and fender well and the locking means appliedthereto; j a

Figure 2 is a plan yiew of the locking means;

Figure 3 is a viewsimilar to; Figure lshowing l a modified arrangement; ,andz a Figure 4 is a plan view of theslockingarrangement of Figure 3. v l p o The fender 10 is cutaway toleave a rectangu- ;lar opening and the fender metal around this opening is deflected downwardly to form a flange 11 to which the well frame 12 issecure'dat its upper end .by welding, riveting or otherwise to a spare wheel W supported in the well: l

The locking mechanismicomprisesa fitting F 40 which maybe a-Casting, and which'comprise's outer wall 13 which is longitudinally-arcshaped and of; substantially semi circularhorizontal cross-section and which at its longitudinalside o j'edges is deflected laterally ito form the-Llat'eral fianges 14 and 15 by means of which the fitting is secured against the outer wall of the well 12 as \by means of welding, or .by;'means of rivets 16 shown. :The fitting is located below the depending roll: or skirt l'lralo'ng ,the outer iside cf the fender and the curvature of tthetop of the fitting conforms to the skirt curvature so that the flttingr willfit against theskirt,

a 3 ,1, At. an intermedi te point a horizontal supporting lug'or ledge 13 extends inwardlyeirom the wall l3 and has the vertical threaded hole 19 ltherethrough. The ledge 18 serves to secure the 7 locking or clamping member 0 comprising the oblong cup-shaped housing or body part 20 and fthe Harm21 extending-inwardly therefrom, In

order that'the body.,of the looking or: clamping .5

lmember may be applied: to the ledge 18 the v fenderzwell Wall above the ledge iscut away;-to

leave the opening 22 and thefitting wall13 at the {aroundthe edgesoi the fitting opening 23 ,-as indicated at 24, thus leavinga smooth edge and giving'a neat'appearance. i 1

' o n 16 In itsjbase the locki'member housing 20 has the cylindrical hole 25 for registering with the threaded hole 19 through the ledge '18, and this hole 125 servesfor, passage therethrough of-the shank OfjEL screw 26 whose end is threaded for :20 engaging in the threaded hole 19. In the arrangement of Figures land 2 the screw-has a head 27;which may "be. hexagonal for application thereto ofra wrench or other tool, and which has the circumferential notch orilocking chanr225 nel 28; Afterthe spare :wheel, or the has been placed in the well the member C is applied with the end of the arm 21 over or against the lower part of the rim of:thewheel or tire, andthe screw 26 is then insertedvth'roughthe hole'18 and 30 turned for threaded engagement in the hole '19,

the: screw head then engaging: the'base of. the

housing 20 and drawing the locking member downwardly toward the ledge 18. If the end of the armJ21 is in engagement'with thewheel or :tire-ri-mither downward movement of thermem depend below the'fender opening. Ihave shown ber C :by. the turning of the" screw willpress 1 the Imemberagainst the rim' and will clamp the wheel or tire structure securely in the well. As shown iniFigure 2;the wall of the fitting 13 sur :40 rounded "the ledger l'8 is parallel with and close to the" side wall of the housing 20 and the fitting C is therefore locked'against flateral displacement. As'shown', thearm 21 inclinesdownwardly from the top of the housing 20' and toelfi or guard structure 29 is provided ior the-screw,

this "structure being oblong and of "a shape to fit easily in the housing 20 of the locking elemerit C.- "At onei'end thelock structure 29 has the cylindricalfpocket 30 ofia diameter to readily-re- 1155.

.;55 V p engagement of the 'oblong lock structure 29 :in

i 05 lfender skirt;

'ceive the screw head 27, the outer end of the cylindrical bore 0r pocket 30 being closed. Ad-

- jacent to the pocket 30 and parallel therewith the lock structure has the cylindrical pocket or bore 31 for receiving a lock cylinder 32. At the bottom of the bore 31 is the transverse guide channel 33 for the lock detent 34, the guide channel 33 communicating with thepocket through the passageway 35 so that the lock detent or bolt may be projected into the pocket 30 and into the locking channel or notch 28 in the screw head. The lock detent or bolt has thecross notch 36 into which projects the cam or eccentric extension 37 on the lock cylinder 32'so that when thelock cylinder is turned by "means of a key" applied in the keyhole 38 the lock detent may be shifted'into or out of thescrew head locking channel; If desired, a spring 39 maybe "inter posed'betweenthe lock detent and the outer-end of the channel 33 for shifting the detent outwardly when the :lock cylinder is released. The

- outer 'end of the detent is beveled so'that when ;th'e structure 29 is applied to receive the screw head in thepocket 30the detent will be cammed to be "compressed when the structure 29 isap plied to the screw :head so that rattling of "the about of the way :by-the top of the head until it 'comes into registration with the v locking channel 28;- when the spring 39 will shift the detent .into the'channel and then lock the structure 29 to the screw head; Acompre'ssion spring 40 may be-anchored to the top wall of the pocket 130 lock-structure '29 and noise will be prevented-as the vehicle is traveling; A dust shield or guard 41, may be pivoted on the structure 29 to be swung into positionover the keyhole when the s.key is withdrawn, thus preventing entrance of -.dust 'orrmoisture to the .lock cylinder parts.

i: cThe drawing shows the member C in looking zposition, the spare wheel lbe'ing "clamped and se- "curely held in the well .12., If it is desired to :remove the wheeLth'e key is inserted in :the key- -=hole.38 and the .lockcylinder is turned tto withrdraw the lock detent from the lockingvchannel -28'.and the lock structure129 may then be withdrawnlfromthe housing:.20.. A wrench or other suitable 'tool .is ."I'IQW applied to -lth'e-screw (head iand the screw unscrewed :from the ledge :18

whereuponthe member Cmay'be'withdrawn from fthe; 'spare wheel'or "tire;

=When locking is again L desired :the :member -1C isappliedfto the spare ,jwheel orttire,1the;screwiis turneddown and then ;the' ;lo ck'rstructure .29 is pushed "down over :the

screw .headkuntilithe ilock detent snaps itself into "the-s locking channel of z'th'e screw head 'and the fithe oblong housing 120 will prevent :movement :of the-lock structure 29:1:elativeto .th'e-screw and :the member C. l The ,lock structure fits :close enough in therhousing .20 :to make :it difficult for the: application of a-tool for the:purpose:of unv;lawfully removingthe-lockstructure.

The fitting serves :the dual :purpose :of :pro r viding a support :for the locking element 1C :and :for bracing :and strengthening :the well and the In the --a'rrange1nent :of :Figures i1 :and 2 the lockingrelement, when inllocking ;po-

:sitionfisrentirely below the ifender skirt 17 but is :readily :accessible for application "of the :key

;-and removal of the various parts from the :fender :wellstructure."

In the modified :1 arrangement of Figures '3 and prthepfittingf' is vInf-substantially the same conrstruction las inthe-arrangement of :Figures 1 and 2, it comprisingtthe; wall :13 \of substantially-semicircular cross-section, and the lateral flanges l4 and 15 by means of which the fitting is secured to the outer side of the well as by rivets 16. The ledge 18 for supporting the locking structure may be slightly inclined, and at its upper part the wall 13 has the opening 23 in register with the opening 22 in the fenderwell wall above the ledge, the 'fender skirt 1 .having a registeringopening and the metal around the opening being deflected down to flange or deflect around the edge surrounding the opening 23, asindicated at 24.

The locking member C comprises a cup-shaped 7 body part or-housing 41 from the upper part of which the arm 42 extends gradually down- 7 wardly and is strengthened by webs 43 extending .of'a spare wheel ortire to be locked in th'e Well. As-the screw is turned down theiarm 42 will-en gage with and'exert pressure against the Wheel or tirerim and will lock thenwheel or tire v securelyintheswell to prevent displacementitherea of, andthewebs43 maybeshaped to accurately fit the'contour of the wheel or tire rim, as shown :retainedby the base ofthezhousing 41 against axial displacement and I have shown a locking 'iringrortkey 47 seating in the circumferential chanin Figure '3'. If desired, "the screw imay be.

anel 48 in the screw shank a distance below-the +screw head. With this arrangement when the screw-is unturned :and raised ifrom the ledge 18 the locking structure C will be carried'therewit'n and the screw will not fbecome displaced and lost and will alwaysbe retained on the struc- V ture'C'. V V H "V V The means shown for preventing unlawful access to the screw comprises a lock plug :orcylinder'49 whcsehea'd seatson'thefannular shoulder 50 formed at the upper end of the housing :41 and which carries :a rotatable :lock 1 barrel 51 adapted to-be: turned :bya'suitablekey toishift the locking detents 52 into tor'ioutrof :engagementwith the-annular locking shoulder 53 within theLhousing. Withthis lock cylinder or plug' :lockedito;

thegouter end-of the housing 41 it willbeiimpose 'sible to gain access with :a tool tothe headiof the screw. -When 'a key is insertedin the tlock .,bar

rel and thedetents 52 are withdrawnfthe :lock

cylinder may be withdrawn and theria wrench 'or other suitabletool may beapplied to the screw for removal of the locking structure'C'L' prevent lateralzi'n'ovement of;the locking structure when :in iloc'kinggposition' irelative fto the spare wheel or tire;

7 V he -i 'qgagement of the outer end" of the lockin struc- "ture C inthe opening 23" of the fitting :F will 1 I have shown eflficient :and practical embodi -ments ofcthe features of, my "invention: but I do not desire ;to beflimited to the exact construction and arrangement shownand described aschanges and modifications may-be made without departing from the "scope of the appended claims.

I-claimasl'ollows: j V j 1 1. In combination with aspare tire k iconstructioma fender having a 'spare tire receiving the invention defined in 0 well, a "supporting" fitting secured at one side of @the W11'b10W the fender top and havingare- 7-5 7 cess provided in its base with a threaded opening, the top of the fender and the adjacent well wall having a passageway above said recess, a clamping member applicable through said passageway and in said recess and havingan opening in its base registering with said threaded opening and having an arm for extending ,into the well into engagement with the rim of the spare tire therein, a screw extending through said clamping member for threaded engagement in said threaded opening to clamp'said clamping member against the spare tire rim.

2. The combination with a fender having a well therein for receiving'a spare wheel or tire, of a fitting secured at the sideof the well below the top of the fender, said fittinghaving an opening at the top and a wall below said opening provided with a threaded passageway, passageways provided in the fender top and adjacent well wall over the open end of said fitting, a clamping i member comprising a body having a vertical recess and an arm extending therefrom for engagement with the rim of a spare wheel or tire in the well, said clamping member being adapted for application through said passageways and having a hole in the base of'its body part for registering with said threaded passageway and forreceiving the shank of a screwfor threaded engagement in said passageway to move said clamping member toward said wall for clamping engagement ofits arms with the rim of the spare wheel or tire, and

ya lock structure received in said recess for interlocking engagement with the screw headto prevent accessthereto'.

3'. The combination with a fender having a. I well for a spare wheel or tire, a locking member, a fitting secured to the fender wall forsupporting said locking member for extension into said well over the rim of a spare wheel or tire, said fitting being below the :fender top and the fender top having an access opening therein for application of the locking member to the fitting, a screw for securing the locking member to the fitting, and a lock structure on the locking member for preventing'access to the screw;

.ilThe combination with a fender having a depending skirt along'its outer edge and a well inside of said skirt for receiving a spare wheeler tire, a fitting secured to the well wall below said skirt, a lateral wall in said fitting below the top thereof, a clamping member forengagement in said fitting above said wall to extend into said well above the rim of a spare wheel or tire therein, a screw for securing said locking member to said wall, and a lock structure on said locking member for preventing access to said screw.

5. The combination of a fender having a depending skirt along its outer side and awell within the skirt for receiving a spare wheel or tire, and clamping means for the spare wheel or tire comprising a fitting secured'to the outer wall of the well below the fender skirt, an arm seating,

at its outer end in said fitting for clamping en- 1 gagement at its inner end with the spare wheel or tire rim, and a screw for securing the arm to the fitting, said skirt having a passageway for access to said screwL 6. The combination with a fender having a well for a spare wheel or tire, a fitting secured to the fender, said fitting having a recess open to the well below the top thereof, an arm fitting at its outer end in said recess with its inner end projecting into said well, securing means engaging with said arm in said fitting and operable to move said arm to apply its inner end with clamping engagement. against the rim of a spare wheel or tire in the well, and lock controlled means mounted on said arm for preventing operation of said securing means. I

7. The combination with a fender having a well for a spare wheel or tire, a fitting secured to the fender, said fitting having a recessopen to the well below the top thereof, an arm fitting at its outer end in said recess with its inner end projecting into said well, securing means engaging with said arm in said fitting and operable to move said arm to apply its innerend with a clamping engagement against the'rim of a spare wheel or tirein the well, and lock controlled means mounted on said armfor preventing operation'of said i securing means, the side wallsof said recess forming abutments'for preventing lateral displacement ofsaid arm when' in rim clamping position. w

8. The combination with a fender having a well for a spare wheel or tire, a fitting secured to the outer wall of the well below the top of the well,'said fitting having a front wall and a bottom wall and side walls forming a recess open at the top and open at the rear'side to said well, a locking arm fitting at its outer end in said recess and held by the recess walls against lateral movement and with its inner end projecting into said well above the rim of a spare wheel or tire in the well, andsecuring means engaging with ting at its outer end in said recess and with'its inner end projecting into the well below the top thereof to be above the rim of a spare wheel or tire in the well, and securing means engaging said arm and said fitting and accessible through the top of said recess for operation to move said arm to clamp its inner end against the rim of a wheelor tire.

' FREDERICK A. SMITH. 

